Shamwari Game Reserve

"Shamwari" redirects here. For the 1982 film, see Shamwari (film).

Shamwari Game Reserve is a private game reserve located approximately 75 km outside Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It covers about 250 square kilometres (97 mi²) and is part of the Indalo Protected Environment.^[1]

Shamwari Game Reserve
A herd of impala grazing on Shamwari plains
Location within Eastern Cape
Location	Near Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Coordinates	33°28′42″S 26°02′07″E
Area	250 km2 (97 mi2)
Established	1992
Governing body	Shamwari Private Game Reserve
Shamwari Game Reserve (South Africa) Show map of South Africa Shamwari Game Reserve (Eastern Cape) Show map of Eastern Cape

The reserve is recognised for restoring degraded farmland into a wildlife conservation area and for pioneering private "Big Five" safaris in the Eastern Cape.^[2]

History

Shamwari was founded in 1992 by conservationist Adrian Gardiner. The project began with the purchase of former farmland and gradually expanded through acquisitions of neighbouring properties.^[3]

Key milestones include:

• 1990s – Reintroduction of elephants, rhino, buffalo, and antelope.^[4]
• 2000s – Predator introductions (lion, cheetah, hyena, leopard).^[5]
• 2017 – New ownership invested US$25 million in refurbishing lodges and conservation facilities.^[6]

Wildlife

Shamwari supports species from multiple biomes, including:

• The Big five game (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros)
• Cheetah, hyena, serval, and other predators
• Cape mountain zebra, hippopotamus, South African giraffe, wildebeest, and numerous antelope species^[7]

Lodges and Tourism

The reserve operates six luxury lodges and one explorer camp:^[8]

• Eagles Crag – luxury suites in a secluded valley
• Long Lee Manor – restored Edwardian-style manor
• Sindile Lodge – elevated tented camp
• Bayethe Tented Lodge – canvas suites with plunge pools
• Riverdene Family Lodge – family-oriented accommodation
• Explorer Camp – rustic bush experience

Activities include guided game drives, walking safaris, birding, and conservation tours.

Shamwari Air Shuttle

In 2025 Shamwari launched an Air Shuttle service, offering direct flights from Cape Town International Airport and OR Tambo International Airport to the reserve, reducing travel time by several hours.^[9][10]

Conservation and Partner Organisations

VulPro @ Shamwari

In 2024 Shamwari partnered with the NGO VulPro to establish a vulture breeding and rehabilitation centre. The project relocated 163 vultures (Cape and African white-backed) in what was described as the largest vulture relocation in Africa.^[11][12] The aim is to bolster endangered vulture populations through captive breeding and future wild releases.^[13]

Wildlife Rehabilitation

Shamwari operates a wildlife hospital treating injured or orphaned animals, with the goal of release back into the wild.^[14]

Born Free Foundation

The Born Free Foundation funds two big cat sanctuaries at Shamwari. Lions and leopards rescued from circuses or zoos live out their lives at these centres.^[15]

Awards and honours

• 2005 – Awarded the Global Nature Fund Award for Best Conservation Practice ^{[citation needed]}.

In popular culture

• The 2018 Netflix series Shamwari Untamed was filmed at the reserve.^[16]
• The BBC series Safari School and the Animal Planet documentary Shamwari: A Wild Life were also filmed on site.